CPN UML Parliamentary Party Forms 21-Member Parliamentary Board, Criticizes Government

Kathmandu. The CPN UML Parliamentary Party meeting has completed the organizational structure of the party and formed a 21-member 'Parliamentary Board'. The meeting held on Saturday at the Parliamentary Party office in Singh Durbar formed the 'Parliamentary Board' to systematize the parliamentary party and play an effective role in the upcoming budget session. According to UML Chief Whip Ain Mahar, the newly formed Parliamentary Board will have 6 office bearers including the party leader, deputy leader, National Assembly party leader, chief whip, whip, and National Assembly whip. The remaining 15 members will be structured to include leaders (coordinators) representing UML in 16 parliamentary committees, including 10 from the House of Representatives, 4 from the National Assembly, and 2 from the joint committee. The meeting expressed objection to the government's recent style of work. Chief Whip Mahar accused the government of neglecting the parliament and trying to make it a 'puppet'. He said, 'The government's attempt to rule through ordinances by ending the parliamentary session is undemocratic, anti-national, and an insult to the mandate of the people. UML will strongly oppose the act of weakening democratic values through ordinances.' The meeting also discussed the issue of the government creating 'bulldozer terror' in the name of slum dwellers' management and serious human rights violations. Stating that the state has hurt the dignity of citizens and in some cases created circumstances that encourage suicide, UML has decided to raise this issue strongly in the upcoming session. UML has announced that it will play the role of a strong opposition in the budget session starting from Baishakh 28. Chief Whip Mahar said that whether the parliamentary proceedings will continue or not depends on the government's behavior. Mahar said, 'The future course of action will be determined based on how the government addresses the voices raised by the opposition in the parliament and issues of public concern, and what kind of behavior it displays.' UML has indicated that it will systematically organize its parliamentary party and present itself aggressively in the parliament on pro-people issues.